BJP leader arrested for raping nursing student in TN’s Sivaganga

The arrested was identified as Sivaguru Durairaj, a resident of Chennai who owns the Goodman's College of Nursing in Sivaganga

A 61-year-old BJP leader and correspondent of Goodman’s College of Nursing was on Thursday (October 10) arrested in Tamil Nadu’s Sivaganga district for allegedly raping a 19-year-old former student of the institution repeatedly on false promises of giving her more marks in her final examination.

The arrested was identified as Sivaguru Durairaj, a resident of Chennai who owns the nursing college in Sivaganga. Incidentally, Durairaj was also the leader of BJP’s Art and Cultural wing in the district.

The incident came to light last month after the newly-married victim, who completed her nursing course from Goodman’s college, found out she was pregnant.

According to the police, the victim was married on September 11, following which, the couple shifted to Chennai. And days later, her husband, who is employed in a foreign country, left to join his work.

About 11 days following her marriage, the victim’s mother-in-law took her to a doctor after she complained of constant stomach pain and vomiting symptoms. It was during this visit that they came to know that the victim was four months pregnant.

Thereafter, she revealed to her mother-in-law that her college correspondent Durairaj had raped her on the false promise of giving her more marks in her final examination. She claimed that he had also threatened to kill her if she revealed this to anyone.

The mother-in-law then filed a police complaint regarding the incident, on the basis of which, the Sivaganga All Women Police booked Durairaj on charges of rape, cheating, and criminal intimidation. Durairaj was finally arrested on Thursday night.

Speaking to The Federal, Sivaganga Town police inspector V Mohan (in-charge) of AWPS, said that the correspondent had lured the victim and sought sexual favours from her when she had approached her for her certificates.

“About three months ago, when the victim girl had approached the accused asking for her certificate, he had lured her on promises of more marks in her final examination. Then, he raped her on multiple occasions and even threatened her of dire consequences if she revealed it to her parents,” said Mohan.

Sources privy to the investigation suspect that more girls could have been lured and raped by the accused. “With the available inputs, it was found that he has been luring and sexually assaulting the girls who approach him for official purposes. He targeted girls from the weaker sections of the society,” said sources.

“However, we are waiting for more complaints against the accused to make the case stronger,” added sources.